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PADDING STAINS Applying Padding Stain Padding stains are used after the first top coat of clear finish has been applied to lock in all underlying coloring methods. The padding stain in these photos is one part NGR stain with one part water added to slow the drying and to make the stain a bit less aggressive. This brown stain being applied to sealed, unstained maple provides a good visual contrast. You can use padding stain to accomplish various aims. In the first photo, it enhances the figure of the wood. To create this effect, dip the corner of a rag into the stain, then follow the outlines of the grain (A). Padding stain can also create textural effects. Simply dampen the rag with the padding stain, crumple it up, then use it to blot random marks all over the surface (B). To soften the edges of the blots, blend them into the background using a gray synthetic pad (C). A B C Glazes, Padding Stains, and Toners 137